--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Usually, when making a film, the…" description: "\"Usually, when making a film, the surprises are negative surprises. You don't get what you wanted or what you hoped for. The only nice surprises are tho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/michael-haneke-3712_actors_usually-when-making-a-film-the-surprises_1627716.jpg" --- # Usually, when making a film, the surprises are negative… ![“Usually, when making a film, the surprises are negative surprises. You don't get what you wanted or what you hoped for. The only nice surprises are those that are offered to you by actors when they offer you these gifts, when they are better and give you more than what you had originally…” quote by Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/michael-haneke-3712_actors_usually-when-making-a-film-the-surprises_1627716.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/michael-haneke-3712_actors_usually-when-making-a-film-the-surprises_1627716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/michael-haneke-3712_actors_usually-when-making-a-film-the-surprises_1627716.jpg) > “Usually, when making a film, the surprises are negative surprises. You don't get what you wanted or what you hoped for. The only nice surprises are those that are offered to you by actors when they offer you these gifts, when they are better and give you more than what you had originally conceived. That doesn't happen every day on set, but if it happens a couple of times in the course of making a film, you can consider yourself very lucky.” [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Film production often brings unwanted setbacks; rare positive surprises come from actors delivering beyond expectations, which are lucky and valuable. **In simple terms:** Actors can give unexpected gifts, but most surprises are negative. Key Takeaway Appreciate and nurture actor contributions. Themes film surprises collaboration Mood cautious hopeful Type reflective practical When to use this quote - set shooting - post‑production - casting decisions - budget constraints Key Concepts creative risk actor agency expectation management Questions to Reflect On - How can you create conditions for positive actor contributions? - What strategies mitigate negative surprises? A Different Perspective Relying on actor gifts can be unpredictable and uneven. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Surprises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-surprises-357026/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative/) [Negative Surprises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-surprises-357027/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Offers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offers/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Surprises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprises/) [Surprises Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprises-negative-357028/) [Surprises Offered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprises-offered-357029/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of things I have turned down ended up being a big embarrassment. Like that script, 'The Beaver.' I thought that was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-zwigoff/a-lot-of-things-i-have-turned-down-ended-up-being-a-big-embarrassment/) [Terry Zwigoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-zwigoff/) > [I've done really well so far in my career by trusting the audience to be as dissatisfied with convention as I am, as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/i-ve-done-really-well-so-far-in-my-career-by-trusting-the-audience-to/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [There are always surprises. Life may be inveterately grim and the surprises disproportionately unpleasant, but it would be hardly worth living if there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-c-boyle/there-are-always-surprises-life-may-be-inveterately-grim-and-the/) [T.C. Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-c-boyle/) > [Always plan for the worst, child, that way all your surprises are pleasant ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/always-plan-for-the-worst-child-that-way-all-your-surprises-are/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [I love anyone who surprises me and makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-love-anyone-who-surprises-me-and-makes-me-laugh/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Little surprises around every corner, but nothing dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/little-surprises-around-every-corner-but-nothing-dangerous/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [A lot interests me - but nothing surprises me particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/a-lot-interests-me-but-nothing-surprises-me-particularly/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [The future can ever promise but one thing and one thing only: surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thing-and-one-thing-only-surprises/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [It surprises me how often we hold ourselves back until we have no choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/it-surprises-me-how-often-we-hold-ourselves-back-until-we-have-no/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [A story to me means a plot where there is some surprise... Because this is how life is full of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/a-story-to-me-means-a-plot-where-there-is-some-surprise-because-this/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [there are times when life surprises one, and anything may happen, even what one had hoped for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/there-are-times-when-life-surprises-one-and-anything-may-happen-even/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Bibles laid open, millions of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/bibles-laid-open-millions-of-surprises/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Life is full of surprises, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/life-is-full-of-surprises-isn-t-it/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) > [History is full of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/history-is-full-of-surprises/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Michael Haneke > [The trouble is that when you read criticisms about the other films that I've made you get the impression that they're all about themes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/the-trouble-is-that-when-you-read-criticisms-about-the-other-films/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [What we're doing for another person is more important than what we're feeling for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/what-we-re-doing-for-another-person-is-more-important-than-what-we-re/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [In terms of cinema and filmmaking, there are certainly the unexpected gifts that the actors bestow on you. Film is always a question of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/in-terms-of-cinema-and-filmmaking-there-are-certainly-the-unexpected/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [A strict form such as mine cannot be achieved through improvisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/a-strict-form-such-as-mine-cannot-be-achieved-through-improvisation/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [To decide to film a movie again shot by shot, you must be masochistic to a certain degree because it is a much greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/to-decide-to-film-a-movie-again-shot-by-shot-you-must-be-masochistic/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [“There are those who see film and take it seriously as an artistic medium, and others who go to have a good time, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/there-are-those-who-see-film-and-take-it-seriously-as-an-artistic/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [When making a film, I'm never concerned about whether the theme is new or whether it's been done before in cinema or not. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/when-making-a-film-i-m-never-concerned-about-whether-the-theme-is-new/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [It's difficult because you can't generalise about these things. But in essence, you deal with children as simply as you deal with actors -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/it-s-difficult-because-you-can-t-generalise-about-these-things-but-in/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Well, the first thing I had to do was to read a lot. First of all, about education... and looking at education from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/well-the-first-thing-i-had-to-do-was-to-read-a-lot-first-of-all-about/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Of course I am a child of European culture. There are a number of great directors from which I learned, but there is nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/of-course-i-am-a-child-of-european-culture-there-are-a-number-of/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [My father and I had a good relationship, it was very relaxed. He had a lot of humour. He looked a little bit like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/my-father-and-i-had-a-good-relationship-it-was-very-relaxed-he-had-a/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [If I tell the audience what they should think, then I am robbing them of their own imagination and their own capacity of deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/if-i-tell-the-audience-what-they-should-think-then-i-am-robbing-them/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [You become a film critic because you're interested in film. I don't know whether knowing so much about cinema leads you to make better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/you-become-a-film-critic-because-you-re-interested-in-film-i-don-t/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [I think it's a little simplistic to explain a work through the psychology of its author. In other words, that Haneke has emotional problems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/i-think-it-s-a-little-simplistic-to-explain-a-work-through-the/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [When I first envisioned 'Funny Games' in the mid-1990s, it was my intention to have an American audience watch the movie. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/when-i-first-envisioned-funny-games-in-the-mid-1990s-it-was-my/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) [Explore all 123 Michael Haneke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Usually, when making a film, the surprises are negative surprises. 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